Auction Preview: RIAC Sept. 9-11 Premiere Firearms Sale
Rock Island Auction Company will sell the Robert “The Bear” Bretherton Collection and Robert M. Lee Collection to the collecting public in the 2016 September Premiere Auction Sept,r 9-11. n…
Rock Island Auction Company will sell the Robert "The Bear" Bretherton Collection and Robert M. Lee Collection to the collecting public in the 2016 September Premiere Auction Sept,r 9-11.
n addition to the second appearance of the Bretherton Collection and the first presentation of the Robert M. Lee Collection, Rock Island will present portions of the Ray Saign Collection, another sampling of the Piedmont Collection of flintlocks and antiques, the Thor Edgeberg Collection, the John H. Bill collection, the Elven Hamilton Collection, and another appearance of items from the expansive Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection of outstanding military artifacts.
Winchesters
Among the highlights are the twice signed, Conrad Ulrich masterpiece known simply as “The Three Graces,” the solid German silver framed, highly ornate, Winchester 1866 that once belonged to American exhibition shooter Ira Paine that has not been seen by the public in 128 years, and a well-documented Winchester 1873 Exhibition grade short rifle, clad in a two-tone finish as a gift from Buffalo Bill. More than 350 Winchesters will be offered in all.
Colts
More than 500 Colts will be on offer, including a U.S. inspected and 1887 dated Colt Model 1883 Gatling gun with an original field carriage and two Accles drum magazines. Other top “pony guns” in the sale are amix of high condition early automatics, wheelguns with their boxes and accessories, and fully-automatic guns.
Foreign Military
The second installment of the Bretherton Collection includes Herman Goering’s personal Walther PPK pistol. It is gold plated, awash in engraving, and on its grips, bears his golden monogram on one side and the Goering family crest on the other. In a historic flourish, it is also accompanied by Goering’s matching ring and cufflinks, all of which also bear his crest.
The new John H. Bill Collection includes high art presentation guns, high condition early models, early Czech rifles and Mauser sporting rifles.
U.S. Military
An outstanding array of U.S. military arms stretching all the way back to the Civil War will cross the block, including muzzleloaders, Civil War carbines, lavish presentation swords and pistols presented to men for their prowess in combat. Also included are high condition revolvers from the most prolific manufacturers of the day, rms from the WWI and WWII, numerous prototype semi-automatic rifles, and an assortment of Colt semi-auto pistols that remain in near new condition.
Rock Island Auction Company | website: www.rockislandauction.com
7819 42nd Street West, Rock Island, IL 61201
